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Hi, I'm having a problem with my shutter binding when I open of close. Everything is aligned, does anyone have a fix for this issue?

8 answers15 replies

23 Comments

Mar 01, 2021

I also missed the set screw location/existence (there was no bolt in mine either. I did figure it out at some point recently though and that helped reduce the gear slipping. Now it may be binding up both due to the motor occasionally not having strong enough battery (my battery charging is very temperamental), too much set screw , or friction in the housing. It is strange to me where it does it. Pulling the track down near the sprocket or pushing in the direction it needs to go always gets it there though. I should probably film it.

Anyway have you guys fixed yours yet? Any must do's? I see the 80mm wheels. I have done teflon spray and so far I've got my retention kit installed.

cparkerntx

Aug 20, 2021

Replying to

We are having issues with our shutter as well. We do not have the same wheel assembly as pictured above. We have the tracks with wheels inside the track. I think this is the modification after Jan 2021. The shutter will not close or open very well, in fact it is dragging all along the track and the wheels will eventually pop out of the track which is a major pain to get back in Any ideas or solutions to this problem?

Rodolphe

Aug 31, 2020

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I finally got time to take some pictures.

Also, here is the "slidy" take I used to smooth the panel sliding :

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00823JDIW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Shutter closed, the smaller wheel still block the shutter as expected :

Shutter open :

Front wheel with extra washers shutter closed

Close up of the washer stack using one of the small washer from the Spacers kit :

Slidy tape (I added some in other places but this made the most significant improvement) :

Sig Jaastad

Feb 13, 2021

Replying to

Thanks for tape recommendation to ease shutter movement - questions - does tape need to be applied to both surfaces - the shutter(s) and dome track? If not - where is preferred application - to the shutter(s) or to the track in the dome? Thanks for help.

Rodolphe

Feb 13, 2021

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Replying to

@Sig Jaastad I only applied it to one surface.

Sig Jaastad

Feb 17, 2021

Replying to

@Rodolphe Thanks for the help and advice. Being a novice, I really appreciate learning from experience of others.

Rodolphe

Aug 26, 2020

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1 : yes I got the black 80mm ones. I wanted some smaller one to make sure they were not going to be pressing hard like the original ones (100mm I thing).

2 : no the original bold were long enough.

Steven Green

Aug 26, 2020

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Replying to

Thanks, just put the order in.

Roy Osterberg

Aug 26, 2020

Replying to

Hi Rodolphe and thank you for the update. I like the idea of the 80mm wheels, I ordered these and the spacers from Amazon (thanks for the URLs). I will put them on this weekend, hopefully the smoke will ave cleared by than to make working outside at little nicer (I leave on Clear Lake).

Steven Green

Aug 30, 2020

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Replying to

@Roy Osterberg I got my wheels yesterday (Friday) but the washers and spacers won't be here until September 15th. Guess these are coming from China. I'll look for another set that can get here sooner.

Steven

Rodolphe

Aug 26, 2020

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Hi Steven, as said in the other post, I'm in the Bay Area, north of Berkeley.

The wheel are indeed the one outisde on the top of the dome.

I changed the back one for these : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072LXGJ2B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and added a spacer so it goes : dome + washer + spacer + washer + wheel+washer+screw.

These are the spacers I used : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PV15PMQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So I only used 2, with the new wheel , on the back.

On the front wheel I thin I have 4 washers or the wheel press too hard on the shutter and cause more binding.

For me the shutter retention kit was pressing to hard on the shutter in some places when closing (and sometimes when opening).

I plan on putting a tarp on top with these strap to retain the dome when there is a storm in the forecast : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ58Q9D/?coliid=I18SK3SYPOKG6C&colid=H2JUHQKQJ7I8&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

As I have a square structure I can have these hooks in the bottom corner to attache the strap to : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785Z66ZC/?coliid=I1C1340H9UBM37&colid=H2JUHQKQJ7I8&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Rodolphe

Steven Green

Aug 26, 2020

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Replying to

Thanks for the links. So I don't make assumptions I have questions:

1. Since the link opened to the black wheel I'm guessing it's the 80 mm one, please confirm.

2. I must also conclude you needed longer bolts to fit the extra washers and spacers, again if I'm wrong please let me know.

Since the dome retention kit seems to work for me, but I'm going to check once I can get the shutter to open automatically, and I can watch from the outside I can be sure. I'm using the dome walls so if I remove the retention kit I need to add D-rings on the inside posts, add J hooks to the dome itself and either use high tension stretch cords or rope. Still looking for the D-rings but I haven't checked Home Depot.

Steven

Rodolphe

Aug 26, 2020

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With the bad air outside due to the large fire in California, I haven't had a change to take close up picture of the smaller wheel and other things.

Hopefully I can get some for you soon.

Steven Green

Aug 26, 2020

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Replying to

I completely understand about bad air quality from the fires. Pictures are very helpful and if you can provide a source; that's even better. Since you seem to be suffering from bad air quality from fires can I conclude you are in California? Generally where are you located? I'm in Morgan Hill, CA

I just re-read your comment about replacing the wheels for the shutter. Are these wheels outside and on top of the dome that the shutter panels are supposed to slide under? In my case the wheels don't touch the shutter panels when stacked. When I first assembled the dome the wheels were so tight against the shutter panels I could barely slide them manually. I ended up adding a couple extra washers.

Also, the shutter retention kit rails don't touch the shutter panels during operation, but they are close. I can't remove them since my dome as nearly blown off the walls a couple of times and the interior retention straps keep breaking, so I don't trust them.

Stay safe,

Steven

Rodolphe

Aug 24, 2020

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I'll take some picture tomorrow.

Steven Green

Aug 24, 2020

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Replying to

I really appreciate your help and look forward to photos.

Rodolphe

Aug 24, 2020

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I had countless issue with the shutters.

First, as Steve says, try to get the tension plate to keep the track in contact... but not too much or it'll bind.

I also remove the shutter retention kit, it was pushing to hard on the shutters panel creating additional friction .. and binding.

I also replace the back wheel with smaller one and put a skateboard ball bearing spacer between the dome and the wheel so that when both panel are on top of each other they don't bind.

I also added a fair amount of "teflon" tape along he seams of the dome and between the 2 shutter panels.

It is now a lot better.

But I would say the whole shutter assembly is not very satisfying when that's the only thing protecting the equipment if it starts to rain and has to close.. if binding happens at that moment ... it could be catastrophic.

Rodolphe

Steven Green

Aug 24, 2020

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Replying to

Rodolphe, I’ve also had problems with my shutter kit too. I’ve used candle wax which seems to work pretty well.

I would appreciate any information about the changes you made to improve the shutter movement.

Tim was helping me with patched firmware yet it just stops in both directions at different location. It started when it was connected to the ASCOM hub and then while manually operating it. Now I can’t even connect to the dome. Waiting on Tim with next firmware version he’s working on.

Dean Neubauer

Dec 12, 2020

Replying to

I have applied Teflon tape and spray which helps some, but I need to know more about this tension plate to know if I have one to adjust.

Rodolphe

Dec 12, 2020

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Replying to

@Dean Neubauer

There is a hex nut embedded in the plastic plate that hods the Shutter controller, motor, sprocket .... This is what you have tu screw in for it to push on the plastic tab behind it which push against the track to properly engage the sprocket :

Steven Green

Aug 23, 2020

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Roy, when you say binding are you referring to the motor turning but not advancing along the track, skipping in place, or stopping?

There is a tension plate directly behind the motor gear that can be moved via a hex set screw.

Unfortunately to access the set screw the motor assembly has to be removed from the shutter.